A FORMER drug addict who was caught selling heroin and crack cocaine to fund his own habit has been given a three-year community order.

Karl Alexander, 41, was given a chance to prove himself last November, with Judge Robert Pawson deferring sentence and ordering the former Swindon man to stay clean, keep out of trouble and work with addiction services.

On Friday, Judge Pawson told Alexander he’d complied comfortably with every expectation he’d set him.

“The report I’ve just read out passages of is  exceptional and it’s a credit to you. As I have already said at the risk of repeating myself, it’s obviously in your best interests and the best interests of the general public if you can be rehabilitated and there is a prospect of that,” he told the defendant.

The judge said defence lawyers would often cite a section from the sentencing guidelines which said a community order could be a suitable alternative to a short or moderate prison sentence for those convicted of drug dealing. “More often than not a defendant returns to court having either failed to comply with the expectations or complied in part,” he said.

Alexander was given a three year community order with requirements to complete a six month drug rehabilitation programme, the probation service’s Thinking Skills course, 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Pawson said: “It’s quite onerous but it’s a lot better than being in prison. Were I to have sent you into prison the custodial sentence would have been more than three years.

“I don’t say that to frighten you, Mr Alexander, I just say it so you understand that if you breach this order and I hope almost as much as you hope that you won’t breach this order, but were you to breach this order the chances are the order would be revoked and you would be sent to prison for – I’m guessing – more than three years.”

Alexander, formerly of Dragonfly Road, Covingham, admitted possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

He was found with the drugs in a Swindon park in December 2019. The drugs were handed to the police officers by Alexander, who said: “You’re going to find these anyway.”

The addict was candid with the police, telling them he’d bought a larger quantity of drugs the day before and was selling them in order to fund his own habit. He had £400 cash on him, which it was accepted was the proceeds of his dealing.

He had 30 offences of his record, including one from the 1990s for supplying class A drugs.

Alexander had since moved to the south coast, where he was engaging with a drug rehabilitation service. He had a prescription for class A substitute methadone.

Sentencing the defendant at Bournemouth Crown Court, Judge Pawson said he didn’t know the details of what it was like to battle an addiction like Alexander’s. He added: “I do know from the numbers of people I’ve spoken to it is extremely difficult, but you can do it.”

As the defendant left the court, the judge told him: “The best of luck, Mr Alexander. You’ve done outstandingly well.”